Rommy Mom: Benue Sets National Pace witH Institutionalization of People-Centered Public SAFETY MODEL

Lawyers Alert President, Rommy Mom, has described the formal launch of the People-Centered Public Safety Model in Benue State as the culmination of years of community-driven reform efforts aimed at rebuilding trust and strengthening local security governance.

Dr. Mom made this known during his address at the official launch of the initiative at Government House, Makurdi, performed by Governor Hyacinth Alia. He explained that what began as a targeted intervention in response to recurring insecurity in Guma Local Government Area and Katsina-Ala Local Government Area has now evolved into a statewide commitment to institutionalizing people-centered public safety across Benue State.

According to him, the model was initially designed to address the breakdown of trust between communities and security institutions in conflict-affected areas. Through structured dialogue platforms, community policing committees, and rights-based engagement mechanisms, the initiative has gradually demonstrated that inclusive security frameworks can improve information sharing, enhance early warning systems, and strengthen coordinated responses to threats.

He acknowledged the support of the Open Society Foundations for their partnership over the past three years. Also, the Chairmen of Katsina-Ala and Guma Local Government Areas for their cooperation and the Benue State Government, particularly the Bureau of Homeland Security, for partnering with Lawyers Alert and facilitating the adoption of this model at the state level.

Dr. Mom stressed that Benue State is the first to implement Community Policing Committees in a manner that fully aligns with the spirit and provisions of the Nigeria Police Act, particularly its emphasis on community participation, accountability, and collaboration. He noted that the state’s adoption of the model transforms what was once a pilot project into an institutional policy framework with long-term sustainability.

He further emphasized that the People-Centered Public Safety Model resonates strongly with Governor Alia’s development vision for the state, especially in its collaborative architecture where citizens, traditional leaders, women, youth groups, and security agencies jointly define safety priorities and co-create solutions. “Security cannot succeed when it is imposed from above,” he stated. “It must be built with the people, for the people.”

Dr. Mom acknowledged the sustained support of the Open Society Foundations over the past three years, describing the partnership as instrumental in refining and scaling the initiative. He also commended the Chairmen of Guma and Katsina-Ala Local Government Areas for their cooperation during the pilot phase, as well as the Benue State Government, particularly the Bureau of Homeland Security, for its openness to reform and its decisive role in facilitating the model’s formal adoption at the state level.

He concluded by stating that the launch should not be seen as a ceremonial milestone alone but as a binding commitment by the state government to reposition citizens at the heart of public safety governance. “Today is more than an unveiling,” he said. “It is a declaration that the people of Benue matter, that their voices count in security decisions, and that safety is a shared responsibility between government and citizens.”